Amber Lee Hughes, the woman accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend’s four-year-old daughter, has now admitted to killing the child.
New admission in Amber Lee Hughes case stuns courtroom
The case, which has drawn widespread public attention, took a dramatic turn in the Johannesburg High Court when Hughes’ new legal team announced her confession.
According to News24, Hughes is on trial for the death of Nada-Jane Challita, who was found raped and drowned in a bathtub at her Glenvista home in January 2023.
The child’s father, Elie Challita, had reportedly been in an argument with Hughes shortly before the incident.
The court had been expected to deliver judgment last week. However, proceedings were delayed when Hughes unexpectedly changed her legal team. The court then granted a postponement to give her time to consult with her new defence lawyer, advocate Marius Bouwer.
When the trial resumed on Thursday, Bouwer told the court that Hughes was making new admissions, including that she did kill Nada-Jane. Despite this, she continues to deny that she raped the child. She had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Court documents show that Hughes’ case appeared on the Johannesburg High Court’s criminal roll on 24 October 2024, where she faced one charge of murder and two counts of rape.
The case was listed as pre-trial under case number SS 061/2024 in Court 4E.
This admission may significantly impact the outcome of the trial, but proceedings are expected to continue to determine the remaining charges, especially the rape allegations.
The court must still assess the evidence and determine the appropriate sentence based on the charges she has confessed to and those she contests.
The court has not yet announced a date for final judgment.